If God exists, does he care about his evolving, suffering world? Most answers are unsatisfactory. Morris's book is different: short but not superficial, strong in its science and philosophy, and realistic as a carer of a handicapped teenage grandson, still unable to walk and talk.
Like Stephen Hawking and Einstein, John Morris also tries to explore the mind of God. Violence began with the Big Bang, long before legendary Adam's sin. Morris believes God is typically non-interventionist but constantly interactive, operating creatively within his own physical laws, that allow freedom to particles and people, resulting in innovations and mutations, not always beneficial. Compared with other religions, Christ's cross and resurrection give more historic hope in a God who suffers alongside us, to create good, responsible persons. Here is a 100-minute read, of interest to believers and atheists alike. Its brave conclusion gives reasonable grounds for thinking we live in a loving God's best possible world, despite unavoidable suffering and natural disasters.

REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS

THE implicit answer to the question in the title of this short,
lively, and accessible book is: “Because human suffering is an
inevitable part of an evolving world that has the capacity to produce
human free-will and moral virtue.”
To get there, Dr Morris taps into those scientists, ranging from
quantum physicists to cosmologists, who argue that evolution involves
a tension between order and chaos to produce mutations that are
fruitful for humankind (alongside, inevit¬ably, other mutations that
are not). Earthquakes and tsunamis, for example, are essential to
earth-crust formation even though on occasions they can devastate city
populations. A God who intervened constantly in this essential process would finally not be a loving God.
There is nothing especially new about this “resolution” of the problem
of unwarranted suffering, but it is expressed in pithy ways by this
Anglican priest and former teacher and tempered by his having a much
loved but very severely incapacitated grandchild.
This, for example, is how he ridicules the notion of an overly
interventionist God (as religious fundamentalists and dogmatic
atheists alike require): “Were he to do everything for us and rescue
us from each impending disaster, we would have smaller brains and
remain immature children. There is no way round it: a loving
parent-Father has to restrain himself and let his ‘baby’ of virtue climb onto its own two wobbly feet!”
This will make an excellent, thought-provoking book for a study-group.
But it misses some points. Tom McLeish’s wonderful Faith and Wisdom in
Science (OUP, 2014) would have helped to bolster his arguments about
order and chaos in both science and the Bible.
He could have explored the more novel idea that dogmatic atheists tend
to make unscientific claims about the problem of unwarranted
suffering. And his biblical exegesis is sometimes uncritical. Yet the
20 famous people (no fewer) that he has persuaded to endorse his book
are basically right: this is a good read.
~ Robin Gill, Editor of Theology for Church Times

What makes this book work for non-believers like me is Morris’s intelligent approach to the questions we have. He may not have converted me, but he entertains and stimulates. So let’s call it a score-draw!
~ John Humphrys, BBC, 'Today', 'Mastermind'

‘‘A must read!” ~ Archbishop of York

One wishes that all theologians would write as clearly and succinctly as John Morris - his analysis of the 'problem of evil' will enlighten believers and unbelievers alike. ~ Lord (Martin) Rees, OM, Kt, FRS, Astronomer Royal

Having lost our 7-year-old son to cancer in 1967, after 3 years of suffering, we are especially interested in what is helpful to those facing sleepless nights. There are not many books that are. But this well done book is, so I can recommend it without reservation. ~ Rt Revd Charles L.Longest, DD, former Bishop Suffragan of Maryland

Rooted in modern science, philosophy and Christian theology, here is the best short answer to the problem of suffering I have ever met. It is forged in the furnace of family suffering and yet resolutely believes in God’s ultimate good purpose. It is a great achievement to have produced something so thoughtful and yet so succinct. ~ Canon Dr Michael Green, theologian, university speaker worldwide, prolific author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John MorrisJohn Morris, M.A.(Corpus, Cambridge), PGCE (London), M.Ed (East Africa), and PhD (Exeter), born in 1937, was a teacher, teacher-trainer and ...